Knitting-machine.



PATENTED JAN. 23, 1906.

J. MGNAMEE: KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 24. 1905.

4 SHBETS-SHEET 1.

No. 810,794. PATENTED JAN. 23, 1906. J. -MONAMEE.

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 24. 1901').

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 No. 810,794. PATBNTED JAN. 28, 1906.

J. MGNAMBB. KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24.1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

wpewtm Namee,

PATENTED JAN. 23, 1906 J. MGNAMEE. KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1905 Q mt . wuwwboz James/14. Namee,

affozmu nrrnn SATES t c-crews enrich.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 1906.

Application filed July 24, 1906. Serial No. 270,978.

, To all whom it may concern: 1

, Be it known that 1, JAMES MoNAMnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philmont, in the county of Columbia and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knitting-Machincs;'and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to attachments for knitting-machines. v

The object of the invention is to provide an attachment for producing locked-stitch openwork in cloth while the same is in the process of being knitted.

nether object is to provide an attachment of this character which will operate upon'the needles of the machine independently from the knitting mechanism and while the latter is in operation. IQ;

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement invention.

of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an attachment and so much of a spring-needle circular-knitting machine as is necessary to showthe application of the Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail fragmentary plan view, on an enlarged scale, showing the relation of the arming-wheel and the stationary cam and the manner in which the needles are acted on by these parts. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view through the standard of the aliningwheel, showing the manner in which the same and the cut presser-wheel are mounted. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the push-down wheel and its supporting-arm. Fig. 6 is a side View of the stationary cam-plate and its supporting-bracket. Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of the alining-wheel. Fig. 8 is a similar View of the cut presscr-wheel. Figs. 9 and 10' are respectively detail plan views of the landing and cast-off wheels. Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of two needles, showing the position of the thread-loops thereon before said needles enter the notches of the alining- Wheels. Fig. 12 is a similar view showing the position of the needles and loops after entering the notches of the alining-whecls. Fig. 13 is a similar view of the needles and loops after leaving the alining-wheels. Fig. 14 is a similar View showing the position ofthe wheel 14:. The stud-sheft l3 thread-loops after the same have been pushed down on the needles by the cloth-wheel. Fig. 15 is a similar view showing the position of the thread-loopsaftcr the heard on one of the needles has been acted on by the cut prcsscrwheel and after the landingwvhcel has raised both the loopsabovc the points or the needlebcards; snd'Fig. i6 is a similar view showing the position of the thread-loops after they have been act-ed on by the cast-off wheel which raises both the loops above the tops of the needles, the loop on the needle with the closed beard. being raised on the outside of the beard, and consequently being cast oil", leaving said needle bare-end both loops on the other needle.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the bed or table of the machine, above which and secured thereto is a. stationery supporting ring or plate 2, upon which are adj ustabl y secured the standards for supporting the various devices which operate upon the threads to form the cloth. Secured to the tuble 1 is en upwardly-projccting bearing-standard 3 in which and the table 1 is journaled a vertically -disposed shaft 4, on which is mounted a needle cylinder or ring 5, on the periphery of which is arranged an annular series of needles 6, said needles being the usual wring-beard needles and secured to thecylinder by means of clamping-plates 7, as shown. Above the needle-cylinder is arranged an inside supporting stationary plate 8. The foregoing parts may be of the ordinary or any suitable construction.

Adjustably mounted upon the stationary ring or plate 2 of the table is an upright bracket or standard 9, on the'upper end of which is arranged a horizontally-disposed bearing-sleeve 10. in this sleeve 10 is slidably mounted a supporting rod or bar 12, on the inner end of which is formed an upwardly-projecting stud-shaft 13, on which is journalcd a horizontally disposed aliningis removably secured in the outer'end of the bar 12 by means of a set-screw 15. Around the bar 12 within the sleeve 10 is arranged a coil-spring 16, one end of which bears against eshoulder formed on the arm 12 and the opposite end bears against the outer end wall oi the sleeve 10, the tension of the spring being exerted to force the bar 12 and the al-ining-whecl 14 carried therebyinwardly toward the needle-cylinder. The outer end of the bar 12 is u" iptcd to project through an aperture formed in the outer end of the sleeve 10, said projecting end being thrcadedto receive adjustingmuts 17, whereby the inward movement of the bar 12 by the spring 16 is limited and by which said movement of the bar may be increased or diminished, as desired. The sleeve 10 is provided with an integrally-formed downwardly-projecting segmental lug or plate 18, in which is formed a segmental slot 19, through which and into the standard 9 is adapted to be screwed aset-screw 20. In the inner end of the sleeve 10 is formed a longitudinally-disposed slot 21, which is adapted to be engaged by a lug or stud 22, formed on the bar 12. By means of the segmental slot 19 in the lug 18 the sleeve 10 may be turned in the standard 9, and owing to the slot-and-stud connection between the sleeve and the bar 12 said bar and the alining-wheel 14', journaled thereon, will also be turned, thus permitting the alining-wheel to be adjusted at various angles and to be rigidly held at such angles by the setscrew 20.

The alining-whecl 14 is provided around its periphery with a series of notches 23, which form teeth 24, said notches and teeth being adapted to engage and act upon the needles in the needle-cylinder in the following man ner: Each of the notches 23 is of sufiicient width to admit a needle and is deep enough to receive two needles, so that the second needle will be practically flush with the ends of the alining-teeth, the depth and width of the slots being regulated by the needles used.

For the purpose of illustrating the relative differences between the width of the notches 23 and the teeth 24 it may be sufficient to say that while the slot is wide enough to admit one needle one tooth is about the width of one needle plus twice the space between two needles, all wance being made for the action of the needles upon the alining-wheel by forcing it slightly ahead when in operation.

Adapted to coact with the alining-wheel 14 is a cam-plate 25, said plate being secured to the outer end of an arm or bar 26, which is adjustably secured at its opposite end within a sleeve 27, formed on the lower end of a vertically-disposed bar 28, which is in turn adjustably supported in the outer end of a bracket 29, removably secured to the inner stationary plate 8 of the machine. The arm 26 is adjustably secured in the sleeve 27 by means of a set-screw 30, while the bar 28 is adapted to be adjusted in the bracket 29 by means of a vertically-disposed adjusting-screw 31. the upper portion of which is provided with rigid-handed screwahreads32. Said upper threaded portion is adapted to engage and work through a short arm 33, secured to and projecting at right angles from the upper end of the bar 28. Below the right-angularly threaded portion of the adjusting-screw is formed a series of left-handed threads 34, adapted to work in a similarly-threaded aperture formed in the bracket 29, whereby when tudinal extent to come into contact with several needles, the cam being so adjusted with reference to the needles that the latter when sprung inwardly by the teeth on the aliningwheel will strike against the straight portion of the cam-face. cam-face recedes from the line of curvature of the curved portion at such an angle and to such an extent as to catch such needles as are forced inwardly by the teeth of the aliningwheel and to force said needles from the ends The straight portion of the of the alining-wheel teeth and into the notches between said teeth.

On the ring 2 adjacent to the standard 9 is adjustably secured a standard 36, in the upper end of which is adjustably' mounted a vertically-disposed supporting-rod 37. In the upper end of this rod 37 is adjustably mounted a horizontally-disposed arm 38, on the outer end of which is adjustably mounted a vertically-disposed rod or bar 39. In the upper end of timber 39 is formed a right-angularlydisposed sleeve 4C0, in which is adjustably mounted a supporting-arm 41., on the end of which is a right-angularlydis'posed bearingstud 4:2. On this stud 42 is journaled a pushdown wheel L3, similar in construction to the ordinary ciotl wheel and which may be formed in any convenient size. On the stationary ring 2 is adjustably secured a standaid at. on the upper end of which is adjustabiy mounted a vertically-disposed supportingrod or bar 45, on the upper end of which is formed a horizontally-disposed sleeve @6.

In this'sleeve &6 is adjustably mounted a horizontally disposed inwardly projecting sup porting-arm 47, the inner end of which is bent upwardly longitudinally to form a right-angularly-disposed supporton the end of which is secured a push-down shoe 48, said shoe being preferably formed of a segmental-shaped plate, as shown.

911 the ring 2 adjacent to the standard it is adjustably secured a standard 4-9, in the upper end of which is formed a vertically-disposed slot, in which is adjustably mounted an inclined bearing-shaft 50. On this shaft 50 is journaled a cloth-wheel 51 said wheel being of the usual construction and operated in the usual manner. Adjacent to the standard 49 on the ring 2 is adjustably secured a supporting-standard 52, in the upper end of which is arranged a horizontally-disposed supporting bar 53., adiustablv and yieldabl y l which form teeth 57, said teeth being arranged hind it.

to engage and press shut the heard of each alternate needle, thus releasing the threadloop on such needle in the ordinary manner.

Removably secured to the inside plate 8 is a supporting-bracket 58, in which is adjust ably secured an outweirdly-projecting bar 59, on the outer end of which is journaled slanding-wheel 60, said wheel being of the usual construction and consisting of a central hub portion 61, in the periphery of which is secured an annular series of obliquely disposed teeth or blades 62, adapted to be engaged with the needles to raise the thread-loops thereon above the points of the beards of said needles On the inside plate 8 adjacent to the bracket 58 is removably secured a similar bracket 63-, in which is adjustably secured a supporting"- bar s4. Gn the outer end of the bar 6% is journaled a cast-off wheel 65, of the usual or any suitable construction, but is here shown as consisting of a central hub portion 66, around the edge of which is secured. an annular series of obliquely-disposed blades or teeth 6'7, adapted to engage the needles and to lift the thread-loops thereon above the same, thereby disengaging the threaddoop' on the closed-beard needle, leaving said needle barc 'said threaddoop being thereby engaged with the next adjacent needle.

The operation of the device is as follows: The periphery of the eliningwvheel is set outside of the cylinder and just below the tops of the needles and is so adjusted that each alternate needle will naturally ride into a notch of said wheeh and each intermediate needle will be sprung inwardly by the teeth of the wheel. By setting the alining5-wheel just below the tops of the needles the loops-held by the needles are not interfered with by the alining whcel. The cam-plate is arranged inside of the ncedle-cylinder and on a plane slightly lower than the alining-wheel, and so adjusted that the curved portion of the cami'ace is flush with the ends of the aliningteeth. W hen the cylinder starts to rotate, one needle rides naturally into a notch of the alining-wheel. and the needle, next ahead (in the direction in which theneedle-cylinder is turning) comes upon the end of an eliningtooth and is sprung inwardly and carried by said tooth until it strikes the straight of the edge of the earn-plate; This straight portion forces the needle off the alining-tooth and into the notch with the needle next be Two needles are now in one notch. the notches being, as hereinbefore described,

portion Wide enough to admit one needle without bind ing and deep enough to admit two needles, one aftcrthe other thus adording' a'fi'rin lat eral supportto the needles while in ihenotch.

As hereinbefore stated, the curved portion of v i ,b i the loop orstitch from one needle to the needle next ahead. This operation is started bythe push-down wheel, WillCll'lS located insidethe perpendicular line of outside of the cloth, said Wheel being adjusted so that its periphery ext-ends slightly below the tops of the needles and is also adjusted with reference to the needles in the notches so that when two needles are firmly loops or stitches on both needles'ere carried inwardly toward the center of the cylinder and downwardly toe point below the tops of the needles. Thusthe loop on in the notch by the action of the pushidown wheel upon the cloth just above the needles the topsof the needles until said needles thus operated upon reach the cloth-wheel 51 whiiih engages said thread-loops immediately after they are disengaged fro the push down shoe and pushes or carries said loops down below the points of the needle-beards and adjacent to the bottom of the needles in the usual manner. Adjacent to the cloth-Wheel is arranged the out resser-Wheel 55, the object of which is to press ofi or to close or press shut the beard of each alternate or second needle for the purpose of allowing the thread-loops on. those needles to he brought up and over the. outside of the beards thereon, the arrangement of the presserewheel being such thet the beards of the intermediate needles are not engagged thereby. The cut presser-wheel 55 is arranged in such relation to the alining-wheel 14: that it will press olf enclose the heard of the needle which entered the notch of the alining- Wheel first and which has only one threaddoop upon it andwill not press off or close the heard of the needle which hes on it the two thread-loops-to Wit, its own loop and the loop which it new shares with the edge,- and both the needles against and 5 held together in 9 a notch by the pressure of the canrplate the the needle ferthest ,95

next needle. Directly under the cut presserwheel and inside the needle-cylinder is located the landingwheel 60, which operates conjointly with the cut presse'r-wheel in the usual manner. The land ingwheel isadjusted in the usual position and is adapted to engage the needles and to raise all the loops thereon the beards and above points of the same. Be-

hind the landing-wheel and in its usual position is arranged the, cast-off wheel, said wheel being adapted to engage the needles and to raise all of the thread-loops thereon to the tops of the needles. The loops on the outside of the needle-beards are thus cast oli", leaving those needles bare and leaving the two loops in engagement with those needles which were not operated upon by the cut presser-wheel.

By the use of mechanism herein shown and described'a loop or stitch is taken off one needle and transferred to the needle next ahead while the knitting-machine is in operation and the cloth is being formed thereon, and while I have herein shown and described said mechanism as being used for transferring every second loop to the needle next ahead it is obvious that by changing the alining-whecl so that to each alining tooth there will be two, three, four, or more notches and providing. a cut presser-wheel to correspond with the alining-wheel in accordance with the first principle it is possible to transfer not only each second loop, but each third, fourth, fifth, &c.,

' and by the manipulation of the alining-wheel and the cut presser-wheel it is possible to form a great variety of figures and patterns.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without re quiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of I this invention.

. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A machine of the class described having a revolubly-mounted alining-wheel provided with peripheral notches, corresponding in depth with the combined diameters of the number of the needles to be alined, and a stationary cam coacting with the alining-wheel 2. A machine of the class described having a revolublymounted alining-wheel provided with needle-alining notches, a stationary cam coacting with the alining-wheel to direct the required number of needles into such notches thereof as said notches successively pass said cam and means to adjust said cam.

3. A machine of the class described having a revolubly-mounted alining-wheel provided with appropriately-spaced peripheral notches corresponding in depth with the combined diameters of the needles to be alined, a stationary cam coacting with the alining-wheel to direht the required number of needles into such notches thereof as said notches successively pass said cam, and a push-down shoe to carry the loops on the alined needles below the tops of such needles until the latter reach the cloth-wheel.

4. An attachment for knitting-machines comprising an alining-whcel having radial notches formed therein to successively engage each alternate needle in the machine, and teeth to engage and spring inwardly each intermediate needle, a cam plate having a straight edge with which is engaged said sprung needle and whereby the latter is forced into the notch of the alining-wheel with the needle naturally entering the same, a curved edge being formed on said cam-plate to coincide with and engage the ends of the teeth of said slicing-wheel thereby closing the notch I .wheel having radial peripheral notches, a stationary cam-plate having a front cam-face converging to the alining-wheel to direct the required number of needles into such'notches thereof, and a curved face presented to the periphery of the alining-wheel to retain the needles in such notches during a partial rotation of the alining-wheel.

5 6. A machine of the class described having 'a revolubly-mounted alining-wheel having peripheral alining-notches, a stationary cam coacting with the alining-wheel to direct the required number of needles into the notches thereof, as such needles successively pass said cam, and a relatively lixed push-down shoe to carry the loops on the alined needles below the tops of such needles until the latter teach the cloth-wheel.

7. An attachment for knittingmachines comprising a pivoted yieldingly mounted alining-wheel, having formed therein radiallydisposed notches to engage each alternate needle and teeth to engage and spring inwardly each intermediate needle, an adjustablymounted cam-plate to force said sprung ne'edles into the notches of the alining-wheel with the needle that has naturally entered the same, apivoted adjnstably-mounted pushvdown wheel to engage the thread-loop of the latter needle with the sprung needle, a pushdown shoe to, hold said thread-loops on said needles after the latter are disengaged from said aliningwheel, a pivoted, adjustahlymounted cloth-wheel to force said loops down on the needles below the points of the beards,

a pivoted, adjustable and yieldingly-mounted out presser-wheel adapted to close the beard of one of said needles, a pivoted adjustablyneedles and raise mounted landing-wheel, having an annular series of obliquely-disposed teeth orblades adapted to engag said needles and raise the thread-loops thereon anda pivoted adjustablyi I have hereunto set two subscribing wit- JAMES MQNAVMEEQ Witnesses:

DANIEL F. BREEN, G. W. HARRIS. 

